College Football: Auburn Tigers 2020 Schedule Analysis
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Life for an Auburn fan living in the state of Alabama is never easy as comparisons rule the day. The Tigers have posted one national championship over the last decade while big brother in Tuscaloosa has cleared space in the trophy case for six. This inadequacy in comparison falls into the lap of head coach Gus Malzahn. Further detailing the differences, during this same stint Auburn has taken home just two SEC West titles while their Crimson Tide brethren have taken home eight. The chorus of displeasure on the field is echoing down from the nosebleed seats making 2020 a pivotal season for Auburn and their coaching staff.
In a narrow window, Auburn’s 9-4 season a year ago can be explained away starting with one of the nation’s toughest schedules. The Tigers competed against seven top-20 teams, four in the top-10, winning three marque games. If Malzahn had capitalized on the 48-45 home win over bitter rival Alabama in the Iron Bowl by beating Minnesota in the Outback Bowl, Auburn fans perhaps would be more carefree in 2020. As is, the upcoming season has the feel of a make or break run for Malzahn, but will the schedule provide any relief towards a vital SEC Championship?
Auburn 2020 Schedule Analysis
Bye – Week 8
Week 1 – Sept. 5 vs. Alcorn State (Auburn) – TBA
Playing an FCS opponent to start the season relieves early stress as opposed to the 2019 Week 1 opponent in Oregon. The Braves were 9-4 last season out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Their only Division I game last season was a 38-10 dismantling by Southern Miss. The SWAC has postponed all fall sports (COVID-19) leaving this opener in doubt for Auburn with no announced plans for a replacement yet.
Week 2 – Sept. 12 vs. North Carolina (Atlanta) Mercedes Benz Stadium
Dropping an upstart Oregon team out of the Pac-12 for one in the ACC is an even trade off on the stress-meter. The Tar Heels saw a resurgence last year under returning head coach Mack Brown posting a 7-6 record. UNC fans will be quick to point out that the team was better than their record losing their six games by a combined 26 points. Add in the return of 3,600-yard 38-TD quarterback Sam Howell, this one could be a thriller. The Tar Heels open the season as Athlon Sports’ No. 18 ranked team with 10 returners back on offense and seven on defense.
Week 3 – Sept. 18 at Ole Miss (Oxford)
Catching Ole Miss early in the schedule should favor Auburn. As is the case for many SEC West teams, the Rebels are going through a complete coaching change. Former Tennessee, USC, and Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin is the new guy on the sidelines in Oxford. This will be Kiffin’s first SEC contest with Ole Miss – welcome back to the conference, Lane.
Week 4 – Sept. 26 vs. Southern Miss (Auburn)
The Golden Eagles are no strangers to playing SEC teams, and are equally accustomed to taking the loss in those meetings. Last year, Southern Miss traveled to Mississippi State (38-15) and Alabama (49-7) on the way to a 7-6 record out of Conference USA.
Week 5 – Oct. 3 vs. Kentucky (Auburn)
Kentucky was one of the surprise teams during the 2019 college football season showing great strength in the face of adversity. The injury bug depleted the depth chart at quarterback giving way to an improbable season under center for receiver turned Wildcat quarterback Lynn Bowden. Bowden led the SEC in rush yards (1,468) on the way to a 9-4 run, but the team will have to find a new leader on offense between Sawyer Smith and Terry Wilson. Kentucky will be in true midseason form by this one having collided already with Florida on the road and South Carolina at home. The Gators may be the SEC East darlings per the media, but Kentucky is loaded. This offense will be explosive and the team top to bottom is well experienced with 15 starters returning.
Week 6 – Oct. 10 at Georgia (Athens)
A 14-point fourth quarter was too late of a run for Auburn last season against the Bulldogs succumbing to a 21-14 loss. Georgia is in a unique position refitting a new offensive line and seeking to find a new starter at quarterback and running back. The Bulldogs open the preseason a top-10 team ranked No. 7, but their slotting among the best will be tested early with a game on the road in Tuscaloosa. The Georgia defense, with eight starters back, will carry a heavy load until the offense, with just starters returning, can find their footing.
Week 7 – Oct. 17 vs. Texas A&M (Auburn)
If Auburn can split the Georgia and A&M games, or even better win both, Malzahn will be sitting pretty during the post-game pressers. No. 11 ranked A&M may be the best team returning per starting experience in the SEC West making them a dark horse contender. To this point in the season, the Aggies will not have faced much of a challenge heading to The Plains as the first part of a two-game road trip with South Carolina following. Auburn and A&M face pretender or contender status in this one.
Week 8 – Bye
Week 9 – Oct. 31 at Mississippi State (Starkville)
Former Washington State head coach Mike Leach heads to Starkville bringing his potent Air Raid offense with him. Leach has an interesting start to his tenure with the Bulldogs facing New Mexico, North Carolina State, Arkansas, and Tulane. But the schedule turns rough on him with A&M, Alabama and LSU on the road, and then a return trip home just to face Auburn. In a first season trying to run the Air Raid coupled with a tough midseason schedule, this showdown between offensive minded head coaches may not be up to the billing.
Week 10 – Nov. 7 vs. Arkansas (Auburn)
Malzahn heads back to Jordan-Hare Stadium for a three-game home stand that could set the Tigers up for postseason success. The three-game affair begins with an Arkansas squad getting everything together under first-year head coach Sam Pittman. The Hogs have capable coordinators in Kendal Briles (OC) and Barry Odom (DC), but do they have the talent on the roster to challenge the bluebloods at the top in the SEC West, especially on the road?
Week 11 – Nov. 14 vs. Massachusetts (Auburn)
Another cupcake on the schedule, but this one at least satisfies in the Division I competition column. UMass played as an independent in 2019 going 1-11 playing just two Power 5 teams (Rutgers and Northwestern).
Week 12 – Nov. 21 vs. LSU (Auburn)
There could be a four-way battle in the West for the right to go to Atlanta, and the outcome of this game could help define who books the flight for the game. No. 8 ranked LSU will have a tough time replacing all the missing pieces from their 15-0 season a year ago, but their schedule does align where a run could happen if other dominoes fall into place. Two weeks prior, LSU will have faced Alabama setting the tone for the end of season run for the title. Favoring Auburn, playing in Jordan-Hare.
Week 13 – Nov. 28 at Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
This is one of those seasons for Saban that if he claims a SEC West title, he will have earned it the hard way. The No. 2 Crimson Tide may have caught a break not playing USC in their opener (COVID-19) opting for Georgia State instead, but must face Georgia and back-to-back road games against Tennessee and LSU. Their final two against A&M and Auburn are both at home aiding their cause. If anything helps Auburn in this one is knowing they took Bama down the year before (48-45). If Auburn, LSU, and Alabama are somehow in three-way tie in the West having ousted the Aggies, Auburn would get the nod to go to Atlanta based on the SEC tiebreaker.
Photo credit: Bleacher Report; No. 10 Bo Nix scores a TD vs. Alabama (2019)